As you know, our region is experiencing one of the worst flu seasons in many years. Here are some recommendations from the Health Department to help prevent the spread of illness:

• Avoid close contact with infected persons. Children who are unwell should stay at home.
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before and after eating, after using the bathroom, after episodes of vomiting or diarrhea, whenever visibly soiled.
• If soap and water is unavailable, hand sanitizers may be used. Rub sanitizer over all hand surfaces until the sanitizer has dried, then wash with soap and water when possible.
• Teach proper cough hygiene. Transmission is possible through close contact with an infected person.
• Avoid putting fingers in the nose, mouth or rubbing the eyes. Transmission through mucus membranes after touching contaminated objects is possible.
• Students should not return to school until they have been symptom free for 24 hours. Do not send a child back to school until they have been fever free for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medication. Students with a confirmed lab diagnosis of norovirus should not return to school until they have been symptom free for 48 hours.